~Judge clears major crypto-linked bribery allegations but sentences MP to six months in prison over a separate Dijkhoff case~
PHILIPSBURG:--- In one of the most closely watched political corruption cases in recent years, Member of Parliament Rolando Brison won acquittals on two major bribery allegations after the Court of First Instance ruled prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that several alleged payments, crypto transfers, hotel benefits, and business dealings were corrupt gifts.
The court rejected allegations tied to businessmen Robbie A. Dos Santos and Sunil L. Gehani that they had given bribes in excess of $90,000, accepting that prosecutors had not disproven Brison’s explanation that several financial transfers were linked to cryptocurrency transactions rather than bribery. Those findings represented a major partial legal victory for Brison in the most serious and widely debated parts of the case. Therefore, this major part of the case led to an acquittal.
However, in the same ruling delivered on 29 April 2026, the court found that bribery was proven in a separate matter involving businessman Johan Alexis Dijkhoffz, concluding that Brison accepted benefits, including money and airline tickets, in exchange for improperly favoring him while serving in public office. Brison was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, ordered to repay approximately US$8,000, and barred for five years from standing for election or serving as a civil servant.
A Split Verdict After Years of Scrutiny
Prosecutors alleged Brison had been “passively bribed” between 2018 and 2024 by three individuals:
- J.A. Dijkhoffz
- R.A. Dos Santos
- S.L. Gehani
After reviewing the evidence, the court ruled:
- Bribery not proven regarding Dos Santos
- Bribery not proven regarding Gehani
- Bribery proven regarding Dijkhoffz
That made the case both a partial acquittal and a criminal conviction.
CRYPTO TRANSFERS BECAME CENTRAL TO THE ACQUITTALS
Some of the prosecution’s most publicized allegations involved more than US$10,000 in transfers linked to Dos Santos through a Melkar prepaid account.
Brison and Dos Santos both maintained that the transactions were cryptocurrency exchanges, in which dollars were sent and crypto assets transferred in return.
The court pointed to several factors supporting that explanation:
- Dos Santos gave the same explanation as in his first police interview
- Messages referenced Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash
- Brison possessed crypto-related cards and wallets
- Evidence showed prior involvement in crypto activity
Because prosecutors failed to disprove that version beyond a reasonable doubt, the court ruled the transfers could not be classified as bribes.
COURT: DEFENDANT DOES NOT HAVE TO PROVE INNOCENCE
The judges emphasized that Brison did not have to prove his version of events.
Once a plausible alternative explanation existed, the burden remained on prosecutors to disprove it. In the Dos Santos and Gehani allegations, the court found they did not do so.
WHY WAS BRISON STILL CONVICTED
Despite the acquittals, the court found that Brison accepted benefits from Dijkhoffz, including money and airline tickets, and improperly favored him in return. Brison's defense stressed that these were standard exchanges between longtime friends, as they were small in amount, including lunches, dinners, and travel.
That conduct was ruled to be criminal bribery by a public official.
However, this is still far from the 24 months requested by the prosecutor, underscoring why this was a major blow to their case, given the substantial resources and funding that must have gone into convicting Brison.
SENTENCE: JAIL, REPAYMENT, POLITICAL BAN
The court imposed:
- 6 months imprisonment
- repayment of approximately US$8,000
- 5-year ban from standing for election
- 5-year ban from serving as a civil servant
Dijkhoffz was sentenced to 4 months' imprisonment.
Click here for the Official Court Verdict.